1965 Backdraft Racing Shelby Cobra Roadster Replica 427 ROUSH

Understanding the passion behind one of the most iconic muscle cars ever built, the AC Cobra, goes back to its early days.

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Prior to 1962, the AC cars were manufactured in Britain using engines called Bristol Straight Six designed by BMW, until an American guy, Carol Shelby, decided to stuff a V8 engine in this light weight and aluminum chassis vehicle, thus creating the ultimate racing machine.

In 1962, AC, the British manufacturer, accepted Shelby’s offer and shipped a modified ACE chassis to the USA, ready to accept the Ford’s 260 in³ HiPo (4.2 L) engine – a new lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block V8 tuned for high performance. Carol Shelby and his team were able to fit the engine and transmission in just 8 hours at Dean Moon’s shop in Santa Fe Springs, California, and so the legend was born.

The first 75 Cobra Mk1 models, including the prototype, were fitted with the 260 cu in (4.3 L). The remaining 51 Mk1 models were fitted with a larger version of the Windsor Ford engine, the 289 cu in (4.7 L) V8.

After including several design modifications on the chassis by AC lead engineer, the MK II entered production in 1963 and lasted until 1965 with more than 528 Mark II Cobras produced in the summer of 1965.

The AC Cobra Mark II with the 289 cu in (4.7 L) leaf-spring Cobra dominated the US domestic race series (USRRC), with only one race lost in three years, and it was time to move into the FIA GT. However, results were different as the circuits were built in a way that the aerodynamics were more important than power, thus putting the roadster at a disadvantage, and so the coupe version was born.

On the engine level, the V8 worked well within the spacious engine bay, so much so, Shelby moved to the 289 stroker (325) engine in 1964, and then to the massive 427 cu (7.0L) with a new, stronger chassis in 1965, creating the ultimate machine, the AC Cobra 427, the original version of our featured vehicle.

Several ups and downs faced the legendary vehicle, from ceasing production to continuation cars line of production by Shelby Automobiles, Inc. and the counterfeit case against Carol Shelby. All of this made the AC Cobra one of the most wanted, legendary muscle cars ever built.

The demand on this vehicle was so high, and that pushed several companies to create AC Cobra replica kits that were sold separately to car enthusiasts and were stuffed with various powerful engines, keeping this legend alive with modern technologies.